Best Reviewed
Family Cars
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- Attractive styling
- Spacious
- Swanky, upscale interior
- Favorably compared to Lexus ES sedan
- Competitively priced
- Available all-wheel drive
- Heavy
- Issues with outward visibility
- Small, difficult-to-load trunk
Free Price Quote for 2011 Buick LaCrosseThe full-size Buick LaCrosse sedan gets a few changes for 2011. Most notably, it drops the weaker of its two V6 engine options -- but it isn't much different from the 2010 model otherwise. Its sharp good looks, elegant cabin and strong safety scores make it once again the Best Reviewed large family sedan. For a full analysis, see our report on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.
What's new for 2011
The LaCrosse now offers a choice of two engines: the base, 182-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder or the optional 280-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6. You'll now get OnStar's Directions and Connections plan free for six months, and the four-cylinder version gains new electric-assist power steering. Fuel economy is unchanged, at 23 mpg combined with the base engine (19 mpg city/30 mpg highway) or 20 mpg combined with the V6 (17 mpg city/27 mpg highway). All-wheel drive is still optional with the V6. It drops fuel economy by 1 mpg city and highway, but the combined fuel-economy estimate is the same as without AWD.
Superb crash-test performance
The 2011 Buick LaCrosse earns the highest possible ratings in all government and independent front, side and rear crash tests, with 4 out of 5 stars in federal rollover resistance tests. Standard safety features include the usual antilock brakes, traction and stability control and front, front-side and curtain airbags. Rear-side airbags are optional.
Base MSRPs for the 2011 Buick LaCrosse range from $27,130 for the base CX trim to $33,205 for the CXS, which comes loaded with heated and ventilated leather seats, heated leather-trimmed steering wheel, power rear sunshade and more.
Our Sources
1. Edmunds.com
Edmunds.com editors note a few 2011 updates to the Buick LaCrosse and name it one of their top sedan picks. Experts here say the LaCrosse is no "luxo-barge," instead combining an elegant, quiet cabin and smooth ride with "admirable driving dynamics" and a strong V6 engine.
Review: 2011 Buick LaCrosse, Editors of Edmunds.com
2. SaferCar.gov
The 2011 Buick LaCrosse joins a few other family sedans (the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima) at the top of their class in government crash tests. The LaCrosse earns perfect 5-star front and side crash ratings, with 4 stars for rollover avoidance. Its overall score is 5 stars.
Review: 5-Star Safety Ratings, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
3. IIHS.org
The 2011 Buick LaCrosse is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It earns the highest rating of Good in front, side, rollover and rear crash tests. Tests were conducted on a LaCrosse with standard but without additional optional side airbags.
Review: Large Family Cars, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
4. FuelEconomy.gov
This federal website lists the 2011 Buick LaCrosse as a family sedan, alongside midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. The full-size LaCrosse gets fewer mpg than the smaller cars in this class -- 23 mpg combined with the base four-cylinder engine, or 20 mpg combined with the optional V6.
Review: 2011 Family Sedans, U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency
The Buick LaCrosse has not changed much between 2010 and 2011. This full analysis links to several expert reviews of the LaCrosse.
Review: 2010 Buick LaCrosse, Editors of ConsumerSearch, September 2010
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